First off, I just wanted a CD and ended up with this DVD. I saw Frank live several times in the 70's and 80's and his music is phenomenal. His lyrics are hysterical, yet oh so true. This DVD has a lot of interviews that were informative, but, to me, pretty boring. If you are into information and some of the history of Frank, then this is really good. Some of the live performances were pretty cool to watch, such as 'I'm The Slime', but I am not a sit down and watch kind of guy. I just want to listen to and enjoy the music and lyrics. His prospective on life and people was, to say the least, politically incorrect. Frankly, no pun intended, he didn't care and I loved him for it. Good stuff, but not something I am going to watch again.
If you are looking for video of complete pieces in concert you might be disappointed. I think this is a great documentary with interviews with musicians from FZ's bands, family members and others. There are recording engineers who discuss the elements that make up the special sound of these recordings. For example, they will isolate a sound that is not too noticable (like a keyboard arpeggio) but makes a bid impact on the texture, and then play those measures again with and without the sound. There are some clips of complete songs performed onstage, and since there is not too much video of FZ out there any additions are valuable. The DVD has exceptionally good extra features like extended interviews and performances. It made me appreciate again how good the musianship is on these records -- I had been listening more recently to the jazz/classical and experimental modern side of FZ.Read full review
The albums selected here were among the most controversial of the entire Zappa catalogue. Selected celebrities were involved in the recording and production of these albums that could fill an edition of Who's Who!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
When the Classic Albums series decided to release Frank Zappa's Apostrophe (') and Over-nite Sensation, I was both surprised and delighted. These albums aren't only typical of Frank's musicianship and lyrical zaniness, they display the genius that was Frank Zappa, the composer. At a time when many artists were struggling just to be heard, Frank was telling it straight in a way that, perhaps, the industry might not have been happy with. But they were one of many of FZ's targets, as everyone was fair game to be in Zappa's radar, until his death in December 1993 from prostate cancer. As I watch this DVD, what I see most is...fun! These people, all talented and respected musicians, playing some of the most difficult music of this time, were most of all happy to be in the company of such a master guitarist and songwriter, but his sarcastic humor and on-stage quick wit made this DVD an absolute joy to watch! Percussionist Ruth Underwood still has the chops, thirty years later, too. This DVD (like all the others in the Classic Albums series) contains interviews from the people that made it happen, including Ruth Underwood, Napoleon Murphy Brock, Steve Vai, and the Zappa clan - Gail, Moon, Dweezil and Ahmet. With several live performances mixed in, this presentation confirms that these two albums, while missing from many radio station/music magazine/internet music sites top-100 lists of great albums, are truly deserving to be called...Classic Albums.Read full review
If you love Zappa like I do then this is a must to own, these are by far his two best albums and they came out back to back, this is a very insiteful video about the making of these 2 lps. the live performances are great but few, but the other band members give a true assetment of what it was like to preform and record with this genuis. His oldest son Dwezzel takes you through many songs by the way of his mixing machine, and proves what a musicial genuis and perfectionist he really was. I love it and I know anyone who buys it will too. Brad Schuitema toold2rocknroll@yahoo.com if you have any questions or comments I welcome all.
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